✔ Updated · 40 cod sides, grouped by cooking style
Cod is mild, flaky and a little shy, so the right side dish does a lot of the talking. Here are 40 sides I love with it, from chip-shop classics to light summer salads.
The best sides for cod are potatoes (fries, lemony mash or roasted new potatoes), green vegetables (asparagus, green beans, peas or broccoli), a fresh salad or slaw, and rice or couscous. Fried cod loves fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce; baked cod suits lemony mash and roasted veg; Mediterranean cod goes with couscous and tomato salad.
- Fried cod: fries, mushy peas, coleslaw, tartar sauce, hush puppies.
- Baked cod: lemony mash, asparagus, green beans, rice pilaf.
- Pan-seared cod: risotto, creamed spinach, arugula salad.
- Safety: cook cod to 145°F, until it flakes easily and looks opaque.
How to Pick the Best Side for Cod
Cod is mild and lean, so I match the side to how I've cooked it. My mum's rule still works on a fish night: one starch, one green thing, and something with a bit of zing, like lemon, capers, salsa or a tangy slaw.
- Fried or beer-battered cod: keep it classic with fries, mushy peas, coleslaw and tartar sauce.
- Baked or broiled cod: creamy mash, buttery new potatoes, roasted asparagus or green beans.
- Pan-seared cod: risotto, creamed spinach, or a peppery arugula salad.
- Mediterranean cod in tomato sauce: couscous, crusty bread and a cucumber tomato salad.
- Blackened or Cajun cod: cheesy grits, corn on the cob, cilantro lime rice or mango salsa.
- Cook it right: cod is done at 145°F, when it's opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Potato Sides for Cod
1. Cajun French Fries
Fish and chips is a classic for a reason. Crispy, salty fries next to flaky battered or baked cod is pure comfort.
Get the recipe →
2. Lemony Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mash with lemon zest stirred through. The bright citrus cuts the richness and echoes the lemon you squeeze over the fish.
Get the recipe →
3. Buttery New Potatoes
Small boiled potatoes tossed in butter, parsley and flaky salt. Simple, tender and never steals the show from the fish.
4. Potato Wedges
Thick, seasoned wedges with fluffy middles. An easy oven-baked alternative to fries for a fish-and-chips night.
Get the recipe →5. Hasselback Potatoes
Thin-sliced, fanned potatoes roasted until the edges crisp. Impressive next to baked cod for a dinner party.
Get the recipe →6. Greek Lemon Potatoes
Potato wedges roasted in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and oregano until golden and a little jammy.
7. Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet, crispy and gorgeous on the plate. A smoky paprika or chipotle mayo dip ties them to blackened cod.
8. Classic Potato Salad
Cool, creamy potato salad for summer cod. Great with grilled or blackened fillets on a warm evening.
Get the recipe →Vegetable Sides for Cod
9. Minted Mushy Peas
The British chip-shop partner for cod: peas simmered and mashed with butter and fresh mint.
10. Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan
Broccoli roasted at high heat until the tips char, then showered with Parmesan. Crispy, nutty and quick.
11. Lemon Butter Asparagus
Asparagus roasted or blanched, then tossed in lemon butter. Ready in 10 minutes, the same time as the fish.
12. Green Beans Almondine
Crisp-tender green beans with butter-toasted almonds and lemon. Light enough for delicate white fish.
13. Texas Roadhouse-Style Green Beans
Smoky, savory green beans with bacon and onion. Lovely with simple baked or broiled cod.
Get the recipe →14. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Halved sprouts roasted until crispy and caramelized. Add a drizzle of balsamic or honey to finish.
15. Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
Wilted in olive oil with sliced garlic and a squeeze of lemon. Done in about 3 minutes.
16. Boston Market-Style Creamed Spinach
Rich, creamy spinach that makes a lean cod fillet feel like a steakhouse dinner.
Get the recipe →17. Cracker Barrel-Style Glazed Carrots
Sweet, buttery glazed carrots that bring color and a little sweetness to the plate.
Get the recipe →18. Grilled Zucchini
Thick zucchini planks grilled with olive oil, salt and lemon. Throw them on alongside grilled cod.
19. Ratatouille
Slow-cooked eggplant, zucchini, peppers and tomato. A Provencal match for olive oil-roasted cod.
20. KFC-Style Corn on the Cob
Sweet buttery corn on the cob, perfect for a fish fry or a backyard cookout.
Get the recipe →Salads, Slaws and Salsas
21. Creamy Coleslaw
Cool, crunchy and tangy. Pile it next to fried cod or straight into a fish taco.
Get the recipe →22. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Chickpeas, cucumber, tomato, red onion and feta in a lemon dressing. Hearty but fresh.
23. Green Goddess Salad
A chopped cabbage and cucumber salad in a creamy herb dressing that loves white fish.
Get the recipe →24. Cucumber Tomato Salad
Juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, red onion, olive oil and vinegar. The easiest fresh side there is.
25. Arugula Lemon Salad
Peppery arugula with lemon, olive oil and shaved Parmesan. Lovely under a pan-seared fillet.
26. Mango or Pineapple Salsa
Sweet, tangy fruit salsa with red onion, jalapeno and lime. Spoon it over blackened or grilled cod.
27. Quinoa Salad
Quinoa tossed with herbs, cucumber, tomato and lemon vinaigrette. Protein-packed and good the next day too.
Rice, Grains and Pasta
28. Chipotle-Style Cilantro Lime Rice
Fluffy rice with lime and cilantro. The base for a cod rice bowl or fish taco night.
Get the recipe →29. Texas Roadhouse-Style Seasoned Rice
Savory, buttery seasoned rice that soaks up any pan sauce from the fish.
Get the recipe →30. Herbed Couscous
Ready in 5 minutes: fluffed couscous with parsley, lemon zest and olive oil. Great with Mediterranean cod.
31. Lemon Parmesan Risotto
Creamy risotto finished with lemon and Parmesan. Make it the main event with a seared fillet on top.
32. Panera-Style Mac and Cheese
Creamy white cheddar mac and cheese. A sure way to get picky eaters to the table on fish night.
Get the recipe →33. Lemon Garlic Pasta
Spaghetti tossed with garlic, olive oil, lemon, parsley and chili flakes. Fast and bright.
34. Cheesy Grits
Creamy Southern grits with cheddar. A cozy base for blackened cod or a shrimp-and-cod combo.
Sauces, Breads and Extras
35. Tartar Sauce
Creamy, tangy and packed with pickles. Homemade tartar sauce is the classic finishing touch for fried cod.
Get the recipe →
36. Mediterranean Tomato Sauce
A quick tomato, garlic and olive sauce. Simmer cod right in it for a one-pan dinner.
37. Crispy Bacon
Crumbled over the fillet or wrapped around it, salty bacon keeps lean cod juicy and adds big flavor.
38. Cornbread
Golden, slightly sweet cornbread is the natural partner for a Southern-style fish fry.
Get the recipe →39. Hush Puppies
Crispy fried cornmeal bites with a soft middle. The fish-fry side everyone grabs first.
40. Texas Roadhouse-Style Rolls
Soft, buttery rolls for building a fish sandwich or mopping up lemon butter sauce.
Get the recipe →Easy Cod Dinner Menus
Short on ideas? These are the combos I come back to again and again.
- Friday fish fry: beer-battered cod, fries, minted mushy peas and tartar sauce.
- Weeknight baked cod: lemony mashed potatoes and lemon butter asparagus, all ready in about 25 minutes.
- Summer grill: grilled cod, grilled zucchini, corn on the cob and cucumber tomato salad.
- Mediterranean night: cod simmered in tomato sauce with herbed couscous and an arugula salad.
- Cod taco bowls: blackened cod over cilantro lime rice with coleslaw and mango salsa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What side dishes go with baked cod?
Baked cod goes well with lemony mashed potatoes, buttery new potatoes, roasted asparagus, green beans almondine, roasted broccoli and rice pilaf. Keep the flavors light and bright with lemon, herbs and butter so the delicate fish still shines.
What vegetables go well with cod?
Asparagus, green beans, peas, broccoli, spinach, zucchini, Brussels sprouts and carrots all pair well with cod. Roast them at high heat for color, or steam and toss in lemon butter. Minted mushy peas are the classic British choice with fried cod.
What do you serve with cod fillets for dinner?
Pick one starch, one vegetable and something tangy: for example, roasted new potatoes, lemon butter asparagus and a spoonful of tartar sauce or salsa. Rice, couscous or a green salad also make a quick weeknight dinner.
What sauce goes with cod?
Tartar sauce is the classic for fried cod. Lemon butter, garlic butter with capers, a quick tomato sauce, pesto and fruit salsa all work well with baked or pan-seared fillets. Add sauce at the table so the crust stays crisp.
How do you know when cod is cooked?
Cod is done when it reaches 145°F in the thickest part, turns opaque white and flakes easily with a fork. Baked fillets about 1 inch thick usually take 10 to 15 minutes at 400°F. Overcooked cod turns dry and rubbery.
